Online scalpers rip off desperate Richmond and Geelong fans
FOOTY fans desperate to witness the Richmond-Geelong blockbuster are being charged as much as $700 as rip-off merchants cash in online without fear of retribution.
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FOOTY fans desperate to witness Friday night’s Richmond-Geelong blockbuster are being charged as much as $700 as rip-off merchants cash in online without fear of retribution.
Ticketmaster Resale was on Thursday night advertising a single seat to the sold-out Tigers-Cats clash for $706.73 — more than eight times face value.
The AFL urged fans to only buy tickets through “official primary channels’’ and warned AFL members they risked having their membership and tickets cancelled if they were caught selling their seat for a profit.
But it refused to take further action against secondary sellers or ask the state government for tougher laws to protect fans.
As Victoria Police and MCG security ramp up surveillance for the AFL finals, it has been revealed stricter checks have already stopped a raft of weapons being taken into the ground.
Knuckle dusters, knives and box cutters are among dangerous items confiscated.
KNUCKLE DUSTERS, KNIVES CONFISCATED IN MCG BAG CHECKS
MCC venue and event services general manager Gerard Griffin said security would be tight for tonight’s Richmond-Geelong clash.
“We will be very diligent and strict in applying our 100 per cent bag check and 100 per cent wanding,” he said. “This will take a fair bit of time and I’m sure fans are already used to this.”
Victoria Police Acting Commander David Clayton said no specific terror threat had been made against finals.
He said police would patrol train stations, tram and bus stops and in and outside the stadium.
TIGERS, CATS READY TO SCREAM THE FULL HOUSE DOWN
A CROWD befitting a Grand Final will pack the MCG tonight as footy finals fever grips Victoria.
More than 95,000 will descend on the home of football to cheer on Richmond and Geelong as each seeks safe passage to a preliminary final.
After a record-breaking season for AFL attendances, the biggest crowd of the year is expected to brave rain, traffic chaos and a security blitz for an all-Victorian qualifying final for the ages.
Long-suffering Tigers fans, desperate for their team’s first finals win since 2001, will march to the MCG en masse from their Punt Rd Oval. But Cats fans lucky enough to hold the hottest tickets in town will arrive with equal expectations.
About 13,000 MCC members who will queue long before gates open at 5pm are the only people without a ticket likely to gain entry to a match that sold out to the general public and AFL members more than a week ago.
Hundreds of the yellow-and-black army watched the Tigers train yesterday, hoping for an end to a premiership hoodoo going back to 1980.
Dusty Donnellan, 5, who shares a name with Tigers superstar Dustin Martin, optimistically said Richmond would win by 33 goals.
Lifelong Tigers supporter Terry Castles said the side was playing “the best footy I’ve seen them play for years’’.
“I think it’s our time to shine. I don’t know if we’ll knock on the big door but we’ll give it a good shake,” he said.
The biggest crowd at the MCG this year was for the 87,685 Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood.
Cats fan Tanya Hart said Geelong fans wanted to silence nervous Richmond supporters. “They’re not exactly used to their team winning a final, so I’m sure they won’t be making a peep if we play the way we can,’’ she said.
“Their fans will be as nervous as their players, so hopefully they get stage fright.’’
All fans arriving at the MCG tonight will be scanned by security and have their bags searched, and the AFL has urge them to arrive 20 minutes earlier than usual.
There has also been a push to use public transport with road works in the area and restricted parking at the ground.
A high chance of rain, possible hail and a top temperature of just 14C are forecast.
One Tigers supporter who won’t be there is Martin’s dad Shane, with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull yesterday standing by his government’s decision to ban him from re-entering Australia.
Speaking on 3AW, Mr Turnbull said there were valid reasons behind the swift law change that looks like stranding Martin Sr in New Zealand as his son chases a premiership and a Brownlow Medal.
“We make no apologies, we are proud of it,’’ Mr Turnbull said. “We amended the Migration Act to ensure that outlaw motorcycle gang members, criminals or threats to national security cannot stay in Australia.’’
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